India may export 400 tonne of mangoes to Japan this season

New Delhi, Apr 27 | Updated: Apr 28 2007, 08:06am hrs

India is likely to export about 400 tonne of mangoes to Japan in the current season, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday. It is expected that approximately 300-400 tonne of mangoes would be exported to Japan in the current season, minister of state for agriculture Kanti Lal Bhuria said in a written reply.

Export quantities to the US could not be ascertained at this stage, he added. The minister also informed the House that in case of Japan, six varieties of mangoes have been approved by the Quarantine Authority of Japan.

These are Alphonso and Kesar (grown in Maharashtra and Gujarat), Banganpalli (grown in Andhra Pradesh), Langra, Chausa and Mallika (grown in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal. In case of the US, there is no variety specific quarantine restriction and all commercial varieties can be exported to America after irradiation, Bhuria said.

Opening of the US market for the Indian mango spells an excellent business opportunity for Indian mango producers and it is now for the Indian entrepreneurs, mango growers and trade associations to realise the fruits of the efforts of the ministry of agriculture, an official release said on Friday.